Frontiers in Public Health (Jan 2022)
Uncoupling Molecular Testing for SARS-CoV-2 From International Supply Chains
- Jo-Ann L. Stanton,
- Rory O'Brien,
- Rory O'Brien,
- Richard J. Hall,
- Anastasia Chernyavtseva,
- Hye Jeong Ha,
- Lauren Jelley,
- Peter D. Mace,
- Alexander Klenov,
- Jackson M. Treece,
- John D. Fraser,
- Fiona Clow,
- Lewis Clarke,
- Yongdong Su,
- Harikrishnan M. Kurup,
- Vyacheslav V. Filichev,
- William Rolleston,
- Lee Law,
- Phillip M. Rendle,
- Lawrence D. Harris,
- James M. Wood,
- Thomas W. Scully,
- James E. Ussher,
- James E. Ussher,
- Jenny Grant,
- Timothy A. Hore,
- Tim V. Moser,
- Rhodri Harfoot,
- Blair Lawley,
- Miguel E. Quiñones-Mateu,
- Patrick Collins,
- Richard Blaikie
Affiliations
- Jo-Ann L. Stanton
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Rory O'Brien
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Rory O'Brien
- MicroGEM NZ Ltd., Dunedin, New Zealand
- Richard J. Hall
- Animal Health Laboratory, Ministry for Primary Industries—Manatu Ahu Matua, Upper Hutt, New Zealand
- Anastasia Chernyavtseva
- Animal Health Laboratory, Ministry for Primary Industries—Manatu Ahu Matua, Upper Hutt, New Zealand
- Hye Jeong Ha
- Animal Health Laboratory, Ministry for Primary Industries—Manatu Ahu Matua, Upper Hutt, New Zealand
- Lauren Jelley
- Clinical Virology, Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited (ESR), Upper Hutt, New Zealand
- Peter D. Mace
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Alexander Klenov
- Hudak Lab, Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Jackson M. Treece
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- John D. Fraser
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Fiona Clow
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Lewis Clarke
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Yongdong Su
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- Harikrishnan M. Kurup
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- Vyacheslav V. Filichev
- School of Fundamental Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
- William Rolleston
- South Pacific Sera, Timaru, New Zealand
- Lee Law
- South Pacific Sera, Timaru, New Zealand
- Phillip M. Rendle
- 0Ferrier Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
- Lawrence D. Harris
- 0Ferrier Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
- James M. Wood
- 0Ferrier Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
- Thomas W. Scully
- 0Ferrier Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
- James E. Ussher
- 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- James E. Ussher
- 2Molecular Pathology, Southern Community Laboratories, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Jenny Grant
- 2Molecular Pathology, Southern Community Laboratories, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Timothy A. Hore
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Tim V. Moser
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Rhodri Harfoot
- 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Blair Lawley
- 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Miguel E. Quiñones-Mateu
- 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Patrick Collins
- MicroGEM NZ Ltd., Dunedin, New Zealand
- Richard Blaikie
- 3Research and Enterprise, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.808751
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 9
Abstract
The rapid global rise of COVID-19 from late 2019 caught major manufacturers of RT-qPCR reagents by surprise and threw into sharp focus the heavy reliance of molecular diagnostic providers on a handful of reagent suppliers. In addition, lockdown and transport bans, necessarily imposed to contain disease spread, put pressure on global supply lines with freight volumes severely restricted. These issues were acutely felt in New Zealand, an island nation located at the end of most supply lines. This led New Zealand scientists to pose the hypothetical question: in a doomsday scenario where access to COVID-19 RT-qPCR reagents became unavailable, would New Zealand possess the expertise and infrastructure to make its own reagents onshore? In this work we describe a review of New Zealand's COVID-19 test requirements, bring together local experts and resources to make all reagents for the RT-qPCR process, and create a COVID-19 diagnostic assay referred to as HomeBrew (HB) RT-qPCR from onshore synthesized components. This one-step RT-qPCR assay was evaluated using clinical samples and shown to be comparable to a commercial COVID-19 assay. Through this work we show New Zealand has both the expertise and, with sufficient lead time and forward planning, infrastructure capacity to meet reagent supply challenges if they were ever to emerge.
Keywords
